Section: Politics on the Hudson

As it gets closer to the drop-dead date when Westchester County will lose millions in Community Development Block Grants and other funding from 2011, the county is continuing the court fight to try to block the federal government from reallocating the money. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has… ?The post Westchester continues court fight over community development grants appeared first on Politics on the Hudson. …

At least four sitting lawmakers used their campaign donations to pay for legal fees over the past six months, according to a round of campaign filings made public this week. But it appears a former state lawmaker outspent them all. Adam Bradley, the former White Plains mayor and Democratic assemblyman,… ?The post ICYMI: Adam Bradley wins the campaign legal fees sweepstakes appeared first on Politics on the Hudson. …

New York’s unemployment rate fell by one-tenth of a percentage point in June—just enough to drop it below the national average, according to the state Department of Labor. The state’s rate was 7.5 percent in June, the lowest its been since February 2009. But the national unemployment stayed stagnant at… ?The post NY unemployment rate drops below national average appeared first on Politics on the Hudson. …

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday called on local governments to think big when it comes to rebuilding from the major storms of the past two years, as the state officially launched a community-based program to distribute federal disaster grants. Cuomo hosted a storm-recovery conference in Albany to commemorate the launch,… ?The post At storm conference, Cuomo touts community approach appeared first on Politics on the Hudson. …

Last year, the state relaunched its iconic “I Love NY” campaign, with a series of fancy new television ads where the heart was replaced with rapidly rotating sketches of New York tourist attractions. Last night, The Daily Show unveiled its own submission—a giant middle finger directed at Texas and its… ?The post NY (middle finger) TX appeared first on Politics on the Hudson. …

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday he would unilaterally approve $16 million in flood aid to property owners in the Mohawk Valley and Niagara County, without calling lawmakers back to Albany. So just where is that money coming from? Cuomo wasn’t totally sure when asked by reporters in Herkimer on Wednesday…. ?The post So where is this flood aid coming from? appeared first on Politics on the Hudson. …

The CSEA Southern Region Political Action Committee announced Wednesday that it endorsed Jose Roman for the Westchester Board of Legislators in District 17 in Yonkers. Roman is challenging incumbent Democratic Legislator Virginia Perez in the Democratic primary and also has filed petitions for the Working Families Party line. A third… ?The post CSEA endorses Jose Roman, primary challenger to Westchester Legislator Virginia Perez appeared first on Politics on the Hudson. …

Westchester Community College’s tuition will not increase under a spending plan under consideration for next school year. Last year, tuition was increased 3 percent to to $4,280 a year, not counting fees. The Astorino administration has agreed to increase the county contribution to the college for 2013-14 from $27.8 million… ?The post Westchester Community College proposes flat tuition rate appeared first on Politics on the Hudson. …

A total of 17 insurers have had proposed rates approved by the state for the new health care exchange, which will launch in October. Consumers will be able to shop for health insurance in four tiers – bronze, silver, gold and platinum, the state announced Wednesday. The approved rates in… ?The post State approves rates for health-care exchange appeared first on Politics on the Hudson. …

A panel charged with rooting out public corruption in New York has taken one of its first official actions, warning the state ethics board and the Board of Elections against getting rid of any relevant documents or electronic files. The Moreland Commission, which was unveiled earlier this month by Gov…. ?The post Hey JCOPE, Board of Elections: Save those documents! (UPDATED) appeared first on Politics on the Hudson. …